Wet and cool end to spring in Sask., but warmer summer on the way: climatologist

The last days of spring were cooler and wetter than normal in Saskatchewan, according to an Environment and Climate Change Canada climatologist.

That's included many rainy days so far in June, and there haveeven been a few frost warnings during certain evenings in parts of the province, saidDavid Phillips.

"It's been wet weather, so certainly we do not see a [lack of] water issue in Saskatchewan as we speak. Maybe you want it to dry out a little bit, but certainly that's a very promising kind of thing for growers and ranchers, and fighting forest fires,"Phillips said on CBC Radio's The Morning Edition.

"But certainly we'd like it to warm up a bit."

Summer officially begins on Thursday.

Phillips said most of the days in June have been under 20C, but warmer weather is on the horizon.

"Bring out that sunshine and I see that after this next couple of days. I see wall-to-wall sunshine across southern Saskatchewan," Phillips said.

"I think there will be a lot of people who will have a happy frame of mind when they see that, and certainly get rid of these risks of frost in June."

Phillips added that Environment Canada'smodels show warmer-than-average temperatures are anticipated for the rest of summer in Saskatchewan.

"We think the flavour, the personality of July and August and into September is looking like it's going to be warmer than normal," Phillips said.

"So in many ways, maybe what I'm hoping for is that typically what we see in June will be in September, which can be usually colder than June."

WATCH |How long will the moisture from the rainy spring last on the Prairies?

How long will the moisture from the rainy spring last on the Prairies?

4 months ago

Duration 2:43

The Prairies have seen quite a bit of rain this spring and it's making a dent in the ongoing drought. It's also keeping forest fires at bay.

Phillips said while temperatures are expected to rise, Environment Canada is anticipating summer being a bit rainierthan normal.

Members of Saskatchewan's agricultural community are welcoming that news.

"An inch of the right kind of rain, coming at the right time, delivers $1 billion in increased yield potential to southern Saskatchewan farmers," said Chris Lane, CEO ofEconomic Development Regina,in a news release.

"That's something we can all get our heads around."

The rainy spring and start to summer has already had a positive impact on cropland in Saskatchewan. Only three per cent of cropland topsoil moisturein the province is short moisture, according to the latest provincial crop report. At this time last year, 24per cent of cropland topsoil was short moisture and four per cent was very short.

Kristjan Hebert, a Moosomin-area producer and CEO of the agriculture-focused Hebert Group, said getting lots of rain in the spring is one of the most important factors in determining a successful year.

"While nothing counts until the crop is in the bin, the boost in soil moisture we've seen this spring puts crops in a strong position heading into the summer," Hebert said.